Right now many in our community are feeling stressed, anxious and alone and we have an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Jesus by offering to do some simple acts of kindness. Would you consider joining us in offering to bless your neighbors?

We have created a simple hand out for you to download, print, fill out, and drop on your neighbor's doorstep. Things you can do include offering to pick up their shopping, pray with them over the phone, or help them get urgent supplies. We want you to continue to follow social distancing rules while you do this, so communications are done via text message or phone calls and groceries are dropped off at their doorstep but not handed to them. We encourage you to especially think about your neighbors who might be most at risk if they leave their homes like the elderly in your neighborhood.

To participate, please click the following link to download the pdf and print as many as you need. As you fill it out, think about what you can and want to do and then check the boxes you are willing to help with. Don't feel pressure to check them all. An example is those who don't have access to transportation should leave the pickup grocery box blank.

Many international students are not able to return home and are among the few who will continue to live on campus during the outbreak. Would you consider helping us bless them through simple acts of kindness like making care packages or picking up groceries? If you are interested, please sign up here and as we hear back from the university about the best ways we can help, we will reach out to you.

Weekly resources for parents

NEW ACTIVITIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT EACH WEEK

Hi parents. Just because we are not formally meeting, this does not mean there are not many opportunities before you! Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Each week we post encouraging words for families, as well as new activity ideas to enrich and engage with our kids.

One-on-one video messaging tools such as Marco Polo, and FaceTime (iPhone only) are great ways to keep in touch throughout the week with friends, family, and individuals in your community. Alternatively, SMS messaging is a quick way to connect with others.

ONLINE ETIQUETTE(from owllabs.com)
1. Mute yourself when not speaking.Even though you may not be speaking and think you're being quiet, most microphones can pick up minor background noises, like coughs, sneezes, or typing. These sounds can easily distract other video conferencing participants and potentially even cause annoyance. Make it a practice to mute yourself whenever you're not talking. For most video conferencing software, it's as simple as a click of a button.

2. Be on time.This one should be standard with any meeting, video or otherwise. However, when you're dialing in to a video conference, it's especially important. While you might be able to get away with sneaking into a physical meeting late, everything is more visible in a video conference.

3. Ensure your technology works correctly.You don't want to have to delay a meeting because your video conferencing system isn't working properly. Do a few test runs when first learning the technology. Enlist a friend to help, and make sure you understand the process fully before starting your first video conference.

4. Wear in-person-appropriate clothing.While it might be tempting to work in your favorite sweatshirt all day, consider wearing something that would be appropriate if the meeting were face-to-face, rather than virtual.

5. Frame the camera correctly.When you're on video, make sure you frame your camera in a way that feels natural and allows you to look at the camera. Sit at eye level to the lens, and try to position yourself so that it shows midsection up. Placing it too high leaves other participants staring down at you like a bad tv show. Putting a camera too low can lead to unflattering and awkward angles.

6. Have the right light.Poor lighting conditions have an enormous effect on the video quality that you send. You'll want to make sure that there is enough light in the room you're in so that your video isn't grainy and unwatchable. Try to not mix natural lighting and office lighting unless your office bulbs are daylight white.

7. Look into the camera.A common mistake is looking at the video feed instead of the camera when speaking to a remote participant. While it may seem like the right thing to do, it actually makes it appear as if you're looking off and not paying attention. This will make you come across as more aloof and less professional. Looking into the camera lens is the equivalent of looking into the person's eyes, so practice doing so until you're comfortable with it.

8. Pay attention.Stop checking emails or working on your PowerPoint presentation during video conferences. Not only does research suggest only 3% of people can multitask effectively, but you also look rude to your participants.